She Feels Pretty glows in course-record Modesty; Nitrogen obliterates Edgewood

Kentucky Oaks Day included a trio of graded stakes for turf distaffers, and two odds-on favorites demonstrated star quality at Churchill Downs. She Feels Pretty returned triumphant in course-record time in the $378,000 Modesty (G3), and sophomore Nitrogen demolished the competition in the $575,000 Edgewood (G2). 

After rain forced a weather delay, Queen Maxima bolted up as the 2.14-1 second choice in the Unbridled Sidney (G3). Ag Bullet, the 1.53-1 favorite, lost all chance when shut off and checked hard on the rail.

Modesty (G3)

Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty turned the corner with the addition of blinkers last fall. With her energy properly focused, she delivered show-stopping performances in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland and the American Oaks (G1) when last seen Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Trainer Cherie Devaux had the 0.79-1 favorite ready to roll off the layoff, and she made it three in a row in style here.

Under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty settled within striking range of the contested pace. Segesta reeled off a quick opening quarter in :22.90 on the firm course, but longshot Birdie Rose headed her through splits of :47.05 and 1:10.73. When Birdie Rose gave way abruptly rounding the far turn, Segesta regained the lead, only to have She Feels Pretty looming ominously alongside.

The daughter of 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) star Karakontie surged to the front and imposed her authority by 2 1/4 lengths. Her final time for 1 1/8 miles, 1:45.51, clipped the course mark of 1:45.52 that Call Protection had just set on Tuesday. 

South African champion Gimme a Nother motored from last to take second by a half-length from Saffron Moon. Segesta tired to fourth in her first start since the July 6 Belmont Oaks (G1), when she split Cinderella’s Dream and She Feels Pretty as the runner-up. There was a 12-length gap back to Takemetothebeach, and Birdie Rose trailed. Pin Up Betty and Waves of Mischief were withdrawn. 

She Feels Pretty has now bankrolled $1,372,457 from her 9-6-1-2 line. The chestnut signaled serious potential when bursting clear in the 2023 Natalma (G1). Although she lost her perfect record next time out in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), her wide-trip third at Santa Anita was full of merit. She Feels Pretty kicked off 2024 by romping in the Hilltop S. at Pimlico, but narrow losses in the Belmont Oaks and Lake Placid (G2) suggested that the headgear could help.

Bred by Payson Stud in Kentucky, She Feels Pretty was sold for $240,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Her dam, Summer Sweet, is a More Than Ready half-sister to Grade 1-placed Summer Solo, who has produced multiple Grade 3 winner Solo Album and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Maedean. This is the further family of multiple French Group 1 victor Act One.

Edgewood (G2)

D. J. Stable’s homebred Nitrogen went off as the 0.97-1 choice to extend her winning streak. Unbeatable since her third to Lake Victoria in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the Mark Casse pupil broke her maiden in the Jan. 4 Ginger Brew S. at Gulfstream Park and added the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. But her latest victory in the Appalachian (G2) at Keeneland was more emphatic, and she hit another level in the Edgewood.

Regular rider Jose Ortiz nestled Nitrogen into an inside stalking position early as Gowells Delight took the lead in her turf debut. Nitrogen’s stablemate Vixen tracked in second through splits of :23.67 and :48.87, began to challenge passing six furlongs in 1:13.20, and wrested command at the top of the lane.

Nitrogen briefly had to be urged along on the far turn, but once she angled out and got organized down the stretch, the response was electric. Overpowering Vixen, the Medaglia d’Oro filly opened up rapidly by 3 1/2 lengths. Nitrogen completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.58, thanks to a final sixteenth in :5.84.

Lush Lips rallied to nip Vixen for runner-up honors. Next came Aterradora, Will Then, Gowells Delight, and Hideaway. Admit was scratched.

Nitrogen’s scorecard stands at 7-4-1-2, $981,604. The bay ran well in her first two starts at Woodbine, missing by a neck in a one-mile turf maiden and placing a close third in the Natalma over the same course and distance. That warranted a shot at the Breeders’ Cup, where she closed belatedly for third to European champion Lake Victoria. 

The Kentucky-bred is a three-quarter sister to stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Love to Shop (by Violence). Their dam, the stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Tiffany Case, is herself a half to Grade 3 scorer Talk Veuve to Me (also by Violence), runner-up to Monomoy Girl in the 2018 Acorn (G1).

Unbridled Sidney (G3)

Trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Juan Hernandez, Queen Maxima had clear sailing throughout from just off the pace. The same couldn’t be said of Ag Bullet chasing on the inside. 

Front-running Epona’s Hope, who posted fractions of :21.76 and :44.28 on turf now rated good, kept the door closed on Ag Bullet. The favorite tried to muscle through, but she did not have enough room, and jockey Umberto Rispoli had to take up sharply. 

Meanwhile, Queen Maxima was hitting her stride. The daughter of Bucchero stormed down the center of the course to win going away by 3 1/2 lengths, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in a course-record 1:01.29.

Crown Imperial got up for second by a neck over Epona’s Hope. Bling crossed the wire fourth, followed by Cloudwalker, Gavea, Ag Bullet, Asternia, and Awesome Treat.

Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures’ Queen Maxima has now won five straight, including the Wishing Well S. and Monrovia (G3). Her resume reads 9-6-2-0, $449,460.

Bred by Saul Rosas in Florida, the chestnut is out of Corfu Lady, a Corfu mare from the family of multiple Grade 3 scorer Halo’s Image.